diff --git a/src/util/vircommand.c b/src/util/vircommand.c
index 41a61da49f..6cd76a560e 100644
--- a/src/util/vircommand.c
+++ b/src/util/vircommand.c
@@ -606,6 +606,7 @@ virExec(virCommandPtr cmd)
 
         cmd->pid = pid;
 
+        VIR_FREE(groups);
         VIR_FREE(binarystr);
 
         return 0;